Principal Animator – UE5 (Sports / Action / Simulation Games)

Posted yesterday

refactor gamesBeverly Hills (CA)

Special Effects Artists and Animators Sports Teams and Clubs

SENIORITY

Senior

SALARY

$71,000 per year

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About the role

Principal Animator – UE5 (Sports / Action / Simulation Games) Refactor Games is a AAA sports video game studio. We are developing the next generation of professional football (soccer) video games using Unreal Engine 5.About the Job We are seeking a highly skilled and talented Principal Animatorto create stunning and realistic animations for our upcoming sports game. The ideal candidate is passionate, self‑motivated, able to assess and articulate in‑game animation systems, experienced and willing to mentor and guide more junior team members, and has a strong understanding of animation approaches and aesthetics.

Responsibilities:

Execute high‑level animations
Mentor and guide the animation team
Implement in‑game animations, including UE5 integration
Review animation elements and provide feedback when required
Ensure animations align with project standards and the overall visual style of the game
Collaborate with other disciplines on project features and development arcs
Contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment

Requirements:

7+ years of professional experience, including 2+ years in a leadership or mentoring role
Proven experience shipping high‑performance console and/or PC titles
Strong technical knowledge of animation pipelines
Experience with Maya, Motion Builder, and UE5Experience with motion capture
Strong understanding of animation principles and approaches
Experience collaborating with technical teams and developing/refining animation systems in UE5Experience with both in‑game animation and cinematic presentation animation
Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate with various departments and disciplines
Experience mentoring animators
Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
PlusesExperience on sports titles
Appreciation of sports and sports games
Experience with Shotgrid, Jira, or similar production tracking software
Experience with real‑time broadcast presentation
Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level Employment Type Full‑time Job Function Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

Location: Culver City, CA

Salary: $71,000.00 – $80,000.00 Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Refactor Games by 2×.

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